House of Habsburg-Lorraine facts for kids
Quick facts for kids House of Habsburg-LorraineHaus Habsburg-Lothringen
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Genealogical arms since 6 August 1806
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| Parent house | House of Habsburg (enatic) House of Lorraine (agnatic) |
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| Founded | 1736 |
| Founder | Maria Theresa and Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor |
| Current head | Karl von Habsburg |
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List of titles
Holy Roman Emperor
(1745–1806) Emperor of Austria (1804–1918) Emperor of Mexico (1864–1867) King of the Romans (1745–1806) King of Bohemia (1740–1918) King of Croatia (1740–1918) King of Hungary (1740–1918) Archduke of Austria (1740–1804) Palatine of Hungary (1790–1918) Grand Duke of Tuscany (1737–1859) Duke of Modena and Reggio (1814–1859) Duchess of Parma, Piancenza, and Guastalla (1814–1847) Countless other realms including Germany, Poland, Italy, Romania, the Low Countries, Cumania, Bulgaria, etc. etc. (see more) |
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| Motto | A.E.I.O.U. and Viribus Unitis |
| Deposition | Austria-Hungary: 1918 (Charles I & IV relinquished participation in state affairs following the end of World War I) |
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The House of Habsburg-Lorraine is a famous and powerful European royal family. It was created in 1736 when Maria Theresa from the House of Habsburg married Francis III, the Duke of Lorraine. By joining together, their two families created a new dynasty that would rule over many lands for centuries. Members of this family were emperors, kings, and queens of countries like Austria, Hungary, and Bohemia.
The original House of Habsburg began in the 1020s with the building of Habsburg Castle in what is now Switzerland. Over hundreds of years, the family grew in power. In 1273, a member of the family, Rudolph of Habsburg, became king and moved the family's base to Austria, which they would rule until 1918.
The House of Habsburg-Lorraine still exists today. The current head of the family is Karl von Habsburg.
Contents
The Story of the Habsburg-Lorraine Rulers
New Ideas and Big Conflicts
The first ruler from this new family was Joseph II. He was inspired by new ideas of the Enlightenment and made many changes to modernize his empire. Many of his reforms were aimed at reducing the power of the church.
After Joseph II died in 1790, his brother Leopold II became emperor. He was worried about the French Revolution and tried to get other European rulers to help the French royal family. He died just before France declared war on Austria.
Facing Napoleon
In 1792, Francis II became the new emperor. He soon had to face a major challenge: the French general Napoleon Bonaparte. Napoleon's armies defeated the Austrians in many battles. Because of these defeats, Francis II lost control of some of his lands.
In 1806, Napoleon forced him to dissolve the ancient Holy Roman Empire. To keep his high rank, Francis II had already declared himself the first Emperor of Austria.
A Time of Change
After Napoleon was finally defeated in 1815 at the Battle of Waterloo, European leaders met at the Congress of Vienna. They wanted to bring back the old kings and queens to power. Austria got back many of the lands it had lost.
However, new ideas about freedom and independence were spreading across Europe. In 1848, revolutions broke out in many cities, including Vienna. This forced the powerful chancellor Metternich to leave, and the emperor, Ferdinand I, had to step down.
The Long Reign of Franz Joseph I
The new emperor was the 18-year-old Franz Joseph. He would rule for a very long time, from 1848 to 1916. At the start of his reign, Austria was a major power in Europe. But the empire fought and lost two important wars, the Second Italian War of Independence and the Austro-Prussian War. These defeats meant Austria was no longer the most powerful nation in Italy or Germany.
The Creation of Austria-Hungary
In 1867, Emperor Franz Joseph agreed to a big change. He gave the Kingdom of Hungary more power and autonomy. This created the dual monarchy of Austria-Hungary. From then on, Franz Joseph was known as the Emperor of Austria and the King of Hungary. The two countries were united under one ruler but had their own separate governments for internal matters.
World War I and the Fall of the Empire
As time went on, Austria-Hungary and Russia both became interested in the Balkan region of Europe. This created tension and led to new alliances. In 1914, the emperor's nephew and heir, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, was assassinated in Sarajevo. This event triggered the start of World War I. Austria-Hungary, along with Germany and others, fought against countries like Britain, France, and Russia.
Emperor Franz Joseph died in 1916 during the war. His grandnephew, Charles I, became the last emperor. When the war ended in 1918, Austria-Hungary was on the losing side. The empire was broken apart, and new, independent countries were formed from its lands. Emperor Charles I was forced to give up his power and go into exile, ending centuries of Habsburg rule.
The Family in Modern Times
Even though they no longer rule, the House of Habsburg-Lorraine still exists today. After the empire ended, the family was forced to live in exile because they would not swear loyalty to the new Republic of Austria. Years later, Otto von Habsburg, the son of the last emperor, gave up his claim to the throne. This allowed him and his family to return to Austria.
The current head of the family is Karl von Habsburg, the grandson of the last emperor, Charles I. His son, Ferdinand Zvonimir von Habsburg, is a professional racing driver. Today, the family's titles, like "Archduke," are historical and are not officially recognized by the Austrian government.
See also
